# Neural and Vascular Mechanisms of Elevated Cardiovascular Disease Risk in African American Women

> **NIH NIH R15** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ARLINGTON · 2021 · $447,615

## Abstract

Project Abstract/Summary
African Americans (AA) women have among the greatest risk for the development of various cardiovascular
diseases (CVD) relative to any other ethnic population including Caucasians (CA). For example the rate of
hypertension in AA women above the age of 20 is ~46% vs. ~30% in CA women and the prevalence of all types
of CVD in AA women is approximately ~48% compared to ~32% in CA women and approximately 540,000 AA
women die from CVD in the United States each year. The involved mechanisms of elevated disease risk are
multifactorial; however, impaired macro and microvascular function and heightened vasoconstrictor
responsiveness to sympathetic nerve activity (sympathetic vascular transduction) are likely contributing factors.
Our preliminary data demonstrates blunted macro and microvascular responsiveness in AA women indicating
impaired vascular function. Furthermore, we recently demonstrated that sympathetic vascular transduction is
also heightened in AA men relative to CA men. Our preliminary data in AA women along with evidence of
elevated α1-adrenergic receptor sensitivity provides support in this population. The long-term goal of the PI is to
better understand mechanisms underlying cardiovascular pathology in populations with elevated disease risk.
The short-term goal is to systematically assess mechanisms of impaired macro and microvascular function and
elevated sympathetic vascular transduction in AA women, a population with the highest risk for CVD. Specific
aim 1 will build upon our preliminary data and expand the findings in a larger sample size (vascular function data)
as well as extend the work in to the female population (sympathetic vascular transduction data). Specifically, this
aim will characterize impairments in macro and microvascular function in the peripheral circulation using non-
invasive techniques. It is hypothesized that macro and microvascular function will be impaired in AAs relative to
CA. In Aim 1 we will also test the hypothesis that AA women have heightened sympathetic vascular transduction
relative to CA women. Specific aim 2 is designed to systematically assess mechanisms of vascular dysfunction
and elevated sympathetic vascular transduction in AA women. To accomplish this Aim we will utilize the
minimally invasive technique of intradermal microdialysis to locally administer vasoactive substances into the
cutaneous circulation which will allow for assessment of mechanisms involved in impaired vasodilation /
augmented vasoconstriction. Taken together this approach will provide important mechanistic insight into greater
prevalence of cardiovascular and metabolic disease in AA women. Ultimately this work will go a long way in
providing important information to inform future strategies to combat elevated disease risk in this population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10114824
- **Project number:** 1R15HL156128-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ARLINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert Matthew Brothers
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $447,615
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-03-01 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10114824

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10114824, Neural and Vascular Mechanisms of Elevated Cardiovascular Disease Risk in African American Women (1R15HL156128-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10114824. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*